Town Square

Supervisors narrow choices for new district maps

Original post made
on Jun 30, 2011

During a three-hour public hearing on Tuesday, Contra Costa County's board of supervisors came one step closer to writing new district lines. Initially presented with five concepts, the supervisors deliberated over 13 maps before deciding on three of the most favorable.

Posted by FanDanville
a resident of Danville
on Jun 30, 2011 at 4:00 pm

"The three surviving maps, concepts six, nine and 12, are currently being amended to address concerns expressed during Tuesday's meeting. Two of the concepts keep the San Ramon Valley in the same supervisorial district."

Of these three maps, only Concept Six makes any sense to me at all.
It has the least variance in population sizes.
It keeps the SRV together in OK fashion.

Two polling efforts started by news service researchers on Tuesday have tested 680 south communities for voters' interest in remaining in District 3. Responses illustrated dissatisfaction with Mary Piepho as the primary reason to seek Concept Plan #6 that would place 24/680 south corridor in District 2. It is obvious to corridor voters that they have greater commonality with the entire 24/680 south corridor as a district proposed in Concept Plan #6.

Further polling questions concentrated on Alamo and Diablo as more aligned with Walnut Creek than the San Ramon Valley. Responses illustrated voter's desires to be linked to Lamorinda and Walnut Creek. For Alamo, Walnut Creek was confirmed to be downtown for the majority of residents. Specifically, Alamo and Diablo voters want an end to Mary Piepho's arbitrary and often antagonistic abuse of these communities.

Important result of polling is voters' belief that redistricting is only a political event that serves supervisors' political supporters and potential for re-election. A majority of those polled have no confidence that supervisors have any interest in serving the will and interests of Contra Costans.

The Alamo Improvement Association President, Roger Smith, has sent a letter to CCC-BOS that accurately and simply explains redistricting choices and impact in the 680 south corridor, Web Link.

The letter's presentation provides commonality of values among your readership area as choices among the concept plans and proposals discussed June 28, 2011 by CCC-BOS.

As your readers review Roger's well-considered points they should consider attending the next CCC-BOS redistricting hearing July 12 in Martinez. To date, supervisors have ignored our public voices in developing districts to their own selfish political interests. Your readers need to carefully consider what another ten years of similar districts and continuation of current supervisors will mean to our communities and neighborhoods.

AS communities throughout Contra Costa expect CCC-BOS to be fully self-serving in defining their districts, only counsel and analysts are prepared to monitor the July 12, 2011 CCC-BOS redistricting hearing in preparation for regulatory, legislative and legal actions against the resulting redistricting ordinance. News services continue to recommend residents attend and be heard at the hearing so there is a record of opposition to CCC-BOS self-interests. More importantly, 24/680 south residents are encouraged to send notice to their supervisors concerning their preferences for redistricting based on the commonality of interests in 24/680 south corridor.